Study sheet: Scientific Investigation Skills

📋 Course Outline

1. Principles of Scientific Inquiry
2. Variables and Experimental Design
3. Graphing and Data Interpretation
4. Measurement and Metric Conversions
5. Compound Microscope Use

📖 1. Principles of Scientific Inquiry

🔑 Key Concepts & Definitions

• Scientific pursuit : A scientific pursuit is identified by applying the seven terms and definitions taught in the course to determine whether an activity qualifies as science.

★ Must-know

📌 Astronomy and astrology must be distinguished when determining whether a pursuit follows scientific principles.

Further detail

• The course requires students to know and apply seven terms and definitions used to determine whether something is science.

💡 Memory Hook

Science tests explanations through investigation; astrology does not follow the same scientific pursuit.

📖 2. Variables and Experimental Design

🔑 Key Concepts & Definitions

• Independent variable : The independent variable is the variable identified when setting up and conducting an experiment.
• Dependent variable : The dependent variable is the variable identified when setting up and conducting an experiment and interpreting its results.

📝 Essential Points

• An experiment is set up and conducted by identifying the variables and applying the basic principles of science to a specific scenario.

💡 Memory Hook

The independent variable is changed; the dependent variable is measured.

📖 3. Graphing and Data Interpretation

★ Must-know

• Graphing data requires choosing an appropriate graph for the data, including the required graph components, and interpreting the resulting relationships.

📌 The independent variable is written on one axis and the dependent variable is written on the other axis according to the graphing conventions taught in the course.

Further detail

• 🔄 A Data Nuggets task requires students to:
  1. Reflect on the scenario
  2. Graph the provided information
  3. Interpret the graph

💡 Memory Hook

Choose the graph, label its components, plot the data, then interpret relationships.

📖 4. Measurement and Metric Conversions

★ Must-know

• The measuring instrument is analyzed using:

  • Major scale
  • Minor scale
  • Estimated uncertainty

• Metric measurement skills include measuring accurately and precisely and converting values within the metric system.

📌 Accuracy and precision are distinct measurement concepts that students must be able to define and distinguish.

Further detail

• Non-metric values can be converted when a conversion factor is provided.

💡 Memory Hook

Accuracy concerns closeness to the correct value, whereas precision concerns consistency.

📖 5. Compound Microscope Use

★ Must-know

• Using a compound microscope requires describing how to focus the microscope.

• Students must identify the different parts of a compound microscope discussed in class.

Further detail

• The course assesses the ability to use a compound microscope as part of its practical science skills.

💡 Memory Hook

Identify the parts, place the specimen, and focus the microscope.